Article: 54 Summoning and prorogation of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)

54. Summoning and prorogation of 1[Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)].-(1) The President may, from time to time, summon either House or both Houses or 1[Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] in joint sitting to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit and may also prorogue the same.

(2) There shall be at least 2[three] sessions of the National Assembly every year, and not more than one hundred and twenty days shall intervene between the last sitting of the Assembly in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session:

Provided that the National Assembly shall meet for not less than one hundred and 2[thirty] working days in each year.

3[Explanation.-In this clause, “working days” includes any day on which there is a joint sitting and any period, not exceeding two days, for which the National Assembly is adjourned.]

(3) On a requisition signed by not less than one-fourth of the total membership of the National Assembly, the Speaker shall summon the National Assembly to meet, at such time and place as he thinks fit, within fourteen days of the receipt of the requisition; and when the Speaker has summoned the Assembly only he may prorogue it.

2. Item 12 of the schedule to P.O. No. 14 of 1985, substituted the words “three” and “sixty” in place of the words “two” and “thirty” respectively in clause (2) of Art. 54 and its proviso, (w.e.f. March 2, 1985). Thereafter section 2 of the Constitution (Tenth Amendment) Act, 1987 (1 of 1987) substituted the word “thirty” in place of the word “sixty”. (w.e.f. March 29, 1987).

3. Section 6 of the Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Act, 1975 (71 of 1975) added the said Explanation after the proviso of clause (2) of Art. 54, (w.e.f. November 21, 1975).

Comparative Table of Article 54 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 :